Glossary
Building Operations
Landscaping
Grounds maintenance for common area exteriors: mowing, planting, and seasonal upkeep. Like janitorial services, it's controllable and vendor-heavy, which makes it a frequent target for related-party markups.
Firm impact
Check whether the landscaping vendor is related to the landlord and whether the billed rate tracks the CAM cap. The same vendor-concentration exposure that applies to janitorial applies here.
How this gets abused
Landscaping costs jump 25% year over year with no change in the scope of service. The invoice traces back to a vendor sharing a mailing address with the landlord's management company.
Practitioner note
Cross-reference landscaping invoices against both the CAM cap test and the vendor-concentration check. A legitimate scope change, like new plantings or expanded grounds, should come with supporting documentation, not just a bigger number.
Related terms
FAQ
Questions about landscaping
Why does landscaping show up often in CAM audits?
It's a controllable, vendor-driven expense, which makes it an easy place for a landlord's affiliated vendor to bill above market without drawing attention.
What documentation should back up a landscaping cost increase?
A scope change, like new plantings, added grounds, or a new contract, should have paperwork behind it. A bigger number with no explanation is worth a closer look.
You know the term. Now check the math.
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